Synopses & Reviews
This investigation by one of the leading authorities on commodity trading examines the failed commodity market in developing countries and current trading arrangements. Peter Robbins looks into the possible solutions being proffered--from ideas to exploit new niche markets and improve quality--to more radical notions like fair trade, and shows how they all fail to measure up to the scale of the disaster facing the Third World. Instead, he argues developing countries must take a leaf out of supply side economics, and themselves take the measures required to bring supply and demand into a better balance that will secure them far higher and more stable prices than today.
About the Author
Peter Robbins is a consultant to the UN on trade relations between African countries and multinational companies.
Table of Contents
The Tropical Commodity Crisis * A Brief History of Primary Commodity Production in Developing Countries * Current Innovations for Improving Income from Tropical Commodities * Towards a New Initiative for Supply Management of Primary Commodities for Developing Countries * The Benefits of the Management of Supplies of Tropical Commodities * International Rules Affecting Supply Management Programmes * The Task Begins * A Personal Account * Appendix: The Uses of Tropical Commodities in the Modern World